How well is your team working together? It is one of the keys to doing more with less in these lean times. Your team needs to work together as productively as possible. If it isn't, here are some ideas that may help.

1. Embrace the differences in your team members. All too often we are guilty of thinking, "If you're not like me, there is something wrong with you!" If every team member has the same skills, knowledge and attitude, the team will not be very strong. Make an effort to value the fact that your team members communicate, work and think differently. Stop focusing on what is wrong and find the good in each of your team members. And there is something good!

2. Clarify your team ground rules. These are guidelines for your team that shape the day-to-day behavior of your team members. Do you have a list of what is expected from each team member? In team building sessions I have conducted, teams have developed rules such as speak positively about other team members, no gossiping, communicate openly and honestly, everyone supports one another, suggest a solution when you have a complaint, have fun, and other rules that can guide the team's behavior.

3. Closely related to setting team ground rules is that each team member needs to learn to give feedback to their colleagues and become comfortable with it. When a team member is unhappy with something another member is doing, she needs to sit down with that team member and discuss it. Dysfunctional teams avoid conflict and instead talk about things behind others' backs. And remember that feedback is also positive. Well-functioning teams praise each other often when things are being done right.

Please contact me if you would like me to facilitate some teambuilding activities of lead one of your team retreats. E-mail: peggy@peggymorrow.com; Phone: 281-280-8190 or 800-375-1982.